Shopify Store Setup Checklist: Payment Gateways, Shipping, and Arabic Localisation

A Shopify store that looks finished is not necessarily ready to launch. I have seen stores go live with broken payment processing, missing shipping zones, no tracking pixels, and Arabic layouts that fall apart on mobile. Each of these problems costs sales from day one.

After setting up 75+ Shopify stores for businesses in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, here is the complete checklist I follow before any store goes live.

Payment Gateway Setup

For Jordan

Shopify Payments is not available in Jordan, so you need a third-party payment gateway. Options that work:

• MyFatoorah — supports credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and local payment methods across the MENA region. Reliable integration with Shopify.
• Tap — another strong option for card processing in Jordan and the Gulf. Clean Shopify integration.
• HyperPay — widely used across the MENA region with support for multiple payment methods.
• Cash on Delivery (COD) — still widely used in Jordan. Configure with clear conditions: minimum order value, geographic restrictions if needed.

For Saudi Arabia

All of the above plus:

• mada card support — essential for KSA. Verify that your chosen gateway handles mada transactions.
• Tamara or Tabby — buy now, pay later services that are extremely popular in KSA. Can significantly increase average order value and conversion rate.
• STC Pay — growing payment method in Saudi Arabia.

Shipping Configuration

Shipping Zones

Create separate shipping zones for each country you sell to. Each zone should have its own rates and delivery estimates.

• Jordan domestic: Flat rate or free shipping above a threshold. "Free shipping on orders over 25 JOD" encourages customers to add one more item.
• Gulf countries (KSA, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar): Individual rates per country based on carrier pricing. Delivery estimates should be realistic.
• International: Decide whether you ship internationally. If yes, set appropriate rates. If no, ensure those zones are not accidentally enabled.

Arabic Localisation

Language Setup

If your store serves Arabic-speaking customers, you need a proper Arabic version — not a Google Translate widget. Shopify Markets allows you to add Arabic as a language. Your store serves Arabic content at /ar/ URLs, maintaining the subdirectory structure that is best for SEO.

RTL Layout

Arabic is right-to-left. Your theme must support RTL properly:

• Navigation mirrors to the right side
• Text aligns right
• Image and text layouts reverse
• Checkout form fields align correctly in RTL

Tracking and Analytics

Essential Tracking (Install Before Launch)

• Google Analytics 4 — full e-commerce tracking with events for view_item, add_to_cart, begin_checkout, and purchase with revenue values.
• Meta Pixel + Conversions API — if you plan to run Facebook or Instagram Ads.
• Google Ads tag — if you plan to run Google Ads.
• TikTok Pixel + Events API — if targeting KSA with TikTok Ads.
• Snapchat Pixel + Conversions API — if running Snapchat Ads.
• Google Merchant Center — product feed submitted for Google Shopping.

Essential Pages

• Homepage — clear value proposition, featured products, CTA
• Collection/category pages — organised product browsing
• Product pages — images, descriptions, pricing, reviews setup
• About page — brand story, trust signals
• Contact page — form, email, phone, WhatsApp, location
• Shipping policy — clear delivery times and costs
• Return/refund policy — clear conditions and process
• Privacy policy — required for advertising pixels and legal compliance

Pre-Launch Final Check

• All payment methods tested with real transactions
• Shipping zones and rates configured for all target markets
• Arabic version complete and tested (if bilingual)
• All tracking pixels installed and verified
• Mobile experience tested on actual devices
• Page speed under 3 seconds on mobile
• All essential pages published
• SSL certificate active (HTTPS)
• Domain connected and working

For the complete guide on Shopify, read my Shopify in Jordan: Complete Guide.

For a real-world example, see how a children's fashion brand in Jordan launched a fully configured Shopify store with payment, tracking, and marketing integration in place from day one.